Simulation modeling for facility allocation of outpatient department

ABSTRACTIn the value chain model, activities of one firm can be classified into two types: primary activities and support activities. From such a concept, patient flow in outpatient departments (OPDs) is developed in this study as an outpatient flow value chain by classifying the OPD facilities into two types: primary and support facilities. This paper demonstrates how OPD facilities can be allocated based on the value chain concept. This process starts by describing patient flow at the OPD; then the new OPD is built, and some support facilities are moved to the new building. Discrete-event simulation technique is used to model the patient flow at the OPD and the new OPD. Simulation experimental results show that separating the primary and support facilities can reduce congestion in the floor area of the OPD’s clinics. More importantly, the results also claim that at the new building, the only processes which happen after clinical processes are worth for the capacity optimization.